This is week 3 of my personal long covid, histamine & SIBO healing journey, including how I respond to self-care setbacks and challenges. This week I explore root causes, how my body got out of balance in the first place.

I’m not going to lie – I felt pretty low after reacting to the Oregano capsules.

I think the SIBO test coming back as positive gave me hope and confidence that I was close to figuring out some answers.

I had spent years dealing with increasingly worse symptoms but the drs could find nothing wrong with me. 

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) described me exactly but here in the UK the hospital told me they do not recognise the condition. And fobbed me off with a general Long Covid label and nothing they could do.

But SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) was starting to be known in the UK and was increasingly being linked to Histamine Overload (or HIT Intolerance) and MCAS.

In theory, if I killed off the bacteria in my small intestines that was causing my immune system to go into overdrive, then healing was in sight? 

I thought I finally had the start of a healing plan.

But if I couldn’t tolerate the medicine – Oregano essential oil capsules – then my plan couldn’t work.

The Dr Calls

My GP called me as I had sent him my SIBO results. He mentioned that I had 10x the amount of bacteria in my small intestines than I should. I have no idea how much extra bacteria other people have with SIBO?

We discussed why so many of my symptoms are only on my right side.

He felt it was nerve damage – Vagus Nerve.

Vagus nerve support was already on my radar – more to come about this.

Because symptoms on my right side were getting worse we discussed b12 being deficient. B12 supports the nervous system and the Vagus nerve.

The bacteria overgrowth in the small intestine block B12 from being absorbed along with many other crucial nutrients – which is a frustrating feedback loop.

Histamine overload is made worse when you are deficient in nutrients (for many important functions) and SIBO makes you deficient in nutrients.

B12 is tricky. I have been low in it before, but the supplement can and does cause reactions when I try to take it.

My GP offered antibiotics and antihistamines if I needed them. And I am grateful to know he will support me should I have no other choice.

A Strategy and Plan B

So I had stopped everything except the DAO, Boulardii and Vitamin C. I kept my diet and environment clean to reduce reactions.

I also started the B Complex (turns your wee yellow) as my body can tolerate that and at least some b vitamins are getting in.

Once I have had a big reaction – my body goes on hyper alert and reacts to tiny things.

It was a tiring week.(few years actually)

But I was curious. What else could I do if essential oil capsules made me react? Was there another natural remedy?

Was SIBO the real root cause? Why did I have SIBO?

Maybe SIBO was just another symptom of a deeper imbalance and root cause?

I was back on the trail of the root cause – which I needed before I could form a strategy and plan B.

 I came across this interesting video about the many root causes of Histamine Intolerance (Overload) which I thought was worth sharing with you.

This video explains why this condition is so complex and if you suspect histamine might be causing your allergies and food intolerances and other random symptoms it is well worth watching to understand possible causes.

I suspected low stomach acid and leaky gut (gut permeability) and the covid viral infection as my main causes of SIBO and Histamine Overload. Contracting Covid after a few years of high level Stress probably impacted Vagus nerve function which directly impacted digestive function.

Discovering my root causes, the reason why my body had become so unbalanced that it was screaming for help through such intense (Histamine & SIBO) symptoms, felt like a huge step forward.

Digestion/Immunity and Vagus nerve/Adrenal stress were where I needed to focus my self-care alongside reducing the symptoms of bacteria in my small intestine and soothing those histamine reactions.

There is no doubt this is a complex condition, made worse because it is not recognised by most health professionals at the early stages – which is why I am sharing my journey.

Herbs to the Rescue?

Herbs of course are a huge passion of mine. Should I try oregano leaf tincture as a much weaker alternative to the essential oil capsules that my body might tolerate – not to mention adding Oregano to every meal?

Having been a herbalist for over 20 years this was something I could explore – if my body could tolerate the remedy. Herbal teas** had been fine so far and a big part of my personal self-care. But to kill bacteria would need a strong tincture.

I would also need to work on the root causes at the same time. Would my body tolerate so many (beloved) herbs and remedies?

I knew this gentle plan could take longer, like months and months on a restricted diet and lifestyle. With the risk that the bacteria blocking essential nutrition and continual histamine reactions could damage my nervous system even more.

** Many healing and wonderful herbal teas are either high histamine or high fodmap – meaning they can make your symptoms worse until you resolve the underlying cause.

Was I being realistic?

Or was this time to see my GP? And if I did would my body cope with various antihistamines? A childhood spent taking endless rounds of antibiotics that had weakened my health 30 years ago, made me wary.

What would I decide to do next?